Reported Speech

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When we want to tell somebody else what another person said, we can use either direct
speech and reported speech. When we use direct speech, we use the same words but
use quotation marks, For example: Scott said, “I am coming to work. I will be late
because there is a lot of traffic now.”

When we use reported speech, we usually change the verbs, specific times, and
pronouns. For example: Scott said that he was coming to work. He said that he would
be late because there was a lot of traffic at that time.

Rules for Reported Speech

While changing direct speech into reported speech or vice-versa the following changes
occur:

1. Changes In Reporting Verb

Affirmative sentences: said, told (object), asserted, replied, assured, informed,
responded, whispered, alleged, believed, assumed, thought
Interrogative sentences: asked, enquired, wanted to know
Imperative sentences: ordered, begged, pleaded, implored, advised, demanded

2. Change Of Pronouns
Direct Speech: Johnny said, ‘I am playing.’
Indirect Speech: Johnny said that he was playing.
First-person generally changes to third person {depending upon the subject of the
reporting verb).

3. Change Of Tenses

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Johnny said, ‘I like to play.’ Johnny said that he liked to play.

Johnny said, ‘I am playing.’ Johnny said that he was playing.

Johnny said, ‘I have played this game.’ Johnny said that he had played that game.

Johnny said, ‘I have been playing this game.’ Johnny said that he had been playing that game.

Johnny said, ‘I played this game last week. ’ Johnny said that he had played that game the previous we

Johnny said, ‘I was playing this game when Mohan Johnny said that he had been/was playing that game when

came home.’ Mohan came home.

Johnny said, ‘I had played this game before you

Johnny said that he had played that game before he came
came.’

Johnny said, ‘I will play this game.’ Johnny said that he would play that game.

In general, present tense becomes past tense; past tense and present perfect become
past perfect.

4. Change of situations
Example:
Nagesh said, ‘I read this book last week. (direct speech)
Nagesh said that he had read that book the previous week, (indirect speech)

• ‘this’ becomes ‘that’

• ‘last week’ becomes ‘the previous week’
• here – there
• now – then
 • today – that day
• yesterday – the day before/the previous day
• tomorrow – the next day/the coming day
• last week – the week before/the previous week
• next month – the next month/the coming month

5. In case of questions and answers

Examples:

• Nagesh asked, ‘Have you read this book?’ (direct speech)

• Nagesh asked if’ whether I had read that book, (indirect speech)
• Nagesh asked, ‘Where is the book?’ (direct speech)
• Nagesh asked where the book was. (indirect speech)

(a) For yes/no questions – use if/whether

(b) For wh- questions – use the wh-word

Word Order:

• Nagesh asked, ‘What’s the matter?’

• Nagesh asked what the matter was. (what + the matter + was)
• Nagesh asked what was the matter, (what + was + the matter)
• The word order can be either:
• who/which/what + complement + be or ‘
• who/which/what + be + complement

6. Reported Speech using present and future tenses

Examples:

• Nagesh said, ‘The sun rises in the east.’ (direct speech)

• Nagesh said that the sun rises in the east, (indirect speech)
• Nagesh said, ‘I will read this book.’ (direct speech)
• Nagesh said that he will read that book, (indirect speech)
• If the original speaker’s present and future is still present and future, the tense
remains unchanged.

7. In case of modal verbs

can becomes could

• will – would
• shall – should
• may – might

would, should, could, might, ought to and must are unchanged.

Example:
 • Nagesh said, ‘I can solve this sum.’ (direct speech)
• Nagesh said that he could solve that sum. (indirect speech)

Reported Speech Solved Examples Exercises for

Read the dialogue given below and then complete the passage that follows.

Question 1.
Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below.

Interviewer: So, why do you want to be a computer programmer?

Ravi: Well, I have always been interested in computers.
Interviewer: I see. Do you have any experience?
Ravi: No, but I’m a fast learner.
Interviewer: What kind of a computer do you use?
Ravi: Computer? Uhm, let me see. I can use a Mac. I also used Windows 10 once.
Interviewer: That’s good.

Ravi recently attended an interview for the selection of a computer programmer. At the
interview, he was asked
(a) ……………………….. To this question he replied that he wanted to change his job because
(b) ……………………….. When the interviewer asked him (e) ………………………. he replied that he
(d) ……………………….. Finally, the interviewer wanted to know (e) ………………………. . Ravi
replied that he could use a Mac and had also used Windows 10 once in the,.past. The
interviewer seemed to be pleased with his answers.
Answer:
(a) why he wanted to be a computer programmer
(b) he had always been interested in computers
(c) whether he had any experience
(d) didn’t but that he was a fast learner
(e) the kind of computer he used

Question 2.
Manu: Where are you going to?
Annu: I am going to the market. Do you want anything?

Manu asked Annu (a) …………………… Annu replied (b) …………………… Annu replied (b)
…………………… and she further asked (C) ……………………
Answer:
(a) where she was going.
(b) that she was going to the market
(c) if/whether she wanted anything.
Question 3.
Sunita: Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?
Neetu: That is a lovely thought but I don’t want anything.

Sunita asked Neetu since the next day was her birthday, (a) …………………… Neetu replied
that (b) …………………… but (C) ………………….. . Answer:
(a) what she wanted as a gift
(b) that was a lovely thought
(c) she did not want anything.

Question 4.
Gardener: Did you water the plant today?
Dev: No, but I will, today.
Gardener: Then tomorrow I will get a sapling of sunflower.

The Gardener asked Dev (a) …………………… Dev replied negatively but (b) ……………………
Then the gardener said that (c) ………………….. . Answer:
(a) if/whether he had watered the plant that day.
(b) said he would that day.
(c) he would get a sapling of a sunflower the next day.

Question 5.
Mr. Harish: Can you polish my shoes?
Cobbler: Yes sir. But I will take 10 for each shoe.

Mr. Harish: I will not mind as long as it is done. Mr. Harish asked the cobbler (a)
…………………… The cobbler replied affirmatively but (b) …………………… Mr. Harish said that
(C) …………………….
Answer:
(a) if/whether he could polish his shoes.
(b) said that he would take 10 for each shoe
(c) he would not mind as long as it was done.

Question 6.
Electrician: When did your electricity go?
Mohan: It is not working since evening.
Electrician: Sorry sir, in this case, I will have to check the fuse now.

The electrician asked Mohan (a) …………………… Mohan replied that (b) …………………… The
electrician apologetically said that in that case (c) ……………………
Answer:
(a) when his electricity had gone.
(b) it was not working since evening.
(c) he would have to check the fuse then.

Question 7.
Teacher : Children, let us all pledge to save trees.
Children : Yes, mam, we all pledge to save our trees as the trees are the lungs of the
city.
Teacher : Let us start today by planting a sapling.

The teacher asked all the children to pledge to save trees. The children replied
affirmatively (a) …………………… as the (b) …………………… Then the teacher said that (c)
………………….. .
Answer:
(a) saying that they all pledged to save trees
(b) trees are the lungs of the city.
(c) they should start by planting a sapling that day.

Question 8.
Buddha : Honesty is the best policy.
Disciple : Does honesty always pay?
Buddha : It may or may not, but at least you will never feel guilty.

Buddha in his preaching said that (a) …………………… the best policy. A disciple asked him
if (b) …………………… always pays, Buddha replied (c) …………………… but at least he would
never feel guilty.
Answer:
(a) Honesty is
(b) honesty
(c) that it might or might not

Question 9.
Doctor : You should take this medicine every day.
Patient : Should I take it before dinner or after dinner?
Doctor : No, you should take it after breakfast.

The Doctor advised the patient that (a) …………………… The patient further asked (b)
…………………… The doctor replied negatively and then said (c) ………………….. .
Answer:
(a) he should take that medicine every day.
(b) if/whether he should take it before dinner or after dinner.
(c) that he should take it after breakfast
Question 10.
Reena : Do you know how to swim?
Surbhi : Yes I know. I have learnt it during this summer vacation.

Reena asked Surbhi (a) …………………… Then Surbhi replied (b) …………………… and also added
that (c) ………………….. .
Answer:
(a) if/whether she knew how to swim
(b) in affirmative
(c) she had learnt it during the summer vacation.